Manmohan calls meeting of J&K parties on Aug. 10

Demonstrators participate in a protest against the J&K government in Srinagar on Friday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting of State parties on Aug. 10 to discuss the situation in the Kashmir Valley. Photo: Nissar Ahmad

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting of parties from Jammu and Kashmir on August 10 to discuss the current situation in the Valley and ways to address it.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister is expected to seek views of the political parties of the State on ways to restore peace in Kashmir which has been witnessing a cycle of violence since June.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram told the Rajya Sabha that Dr. Singh would be receiving the delegation from Jammu and Kashmir as there have been demands in this regard.

PMO sources said that Dr. Singh would meet the delegation on August 10.

There have been demands from various sections of Jammu and Kashmir that the Prime Minister should call all parties of the State for deliberations on the situation in the State.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had called an all-party meeting last month but the opposition PDP refused to attend. Its chief Mehbooba Mufti said the meeting should instead be called by the Prime Minister.